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Peru publishers concerned over effects of internet on magazines

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Magazine editors and publishers from countries such as Peru, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia inaugurated on Monday a weeklong meeting in Bogotá to discuss the future of the printed editions of their publications.

Affirming that internet editions of magazines are becoming increasingly popular, Latin American publishers confirmed that they would have to begin strengthening the online versions of their magazines.

"The big question magazines are asking is, what's going to happen with the internet," said Guillermo Osorno, head of Mexico-based Gatopardo magazine.

During the meeting he noted that the printed edition of veteran U.S. magazine Christian Science Monitor had recently disappeared.

"Newspapers can adjust to changes with their online versions but with magazines you never know because articles published are extensive, which is different than the internet, which provides brief subjects, said Osorno, assuring "Something has to be done."

Daniel Titinger, former head of Peru's Etiqueta Negra magazine differed in opinion, stating that the best way to publish a magazine was on paper.

"This allows an impeccable design," said Titinger.

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# SA says :
3 November, 2008 [ 13:50 ]

The reality is that many publications are becoming paperless.  Why use paper when readers can read it on the internet???  Why use paper when readers can download it in PDF???

# Mike says :
3 November, 2008 [ 14:57 ]

I think there will always be a place for paper, but weaker magazines will probably be thinned out pretty well (and that has already started).

# NB says :
3 November, 2008 [ 17:17 ]

Although I have high regard for Etiquita Negra - and especially its "impeccable design" - I think Titinger is way wrong here, and is mimicking the unfortunate behavior of certain US publishers and editors in the early 90s, when they made the same argument. First of all, web design has come a long way, and though the design follows different rules, there is beauty and elegance in the craft of a good web designer. And, less so than print, there's still leaps and bounds to make in innovating the field, allowing those magazines to get in early and steal the title of innovator. I also think the idea that all web content needs to be short is silly. Some web content is short. Some is long. It's the same with printed content.

The truth is, as more and more of latin america comes online and paper prices continue to rise, these guys are going to have to ramp up digital operations. And the sooner they embrace it, the better they'll do.

# NB says :
3 November, 2008 [ 17:21 ]

Oops. I meant "more so than print"   -- way more.

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